Kathmandu, December 15

Ignoring objections by the left alliance, the government is preparing to appoint governors in seven provinces next week.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Personal Secretary Keshab Raj Joshi said the appointment of provincial governors was necessary to form the National Assembly, as provincial assembly members should take the oath of office and secrecy from the governor to be included in the electoral college for upper house polls.

“The constitution clearly states that the formation of the House of Representatives will be complete only after the formation of the National Assembly,” he said.

He argued that to meet the constitutional provision of 33 per cent women representation in the Parliament, governors had to be appointed by the caretaker government. He added that only after composition of the NA would it be known how many women the parties should field under the proportional representation system to ensure 33 per cent representation of women in the Parliament.

Article 179 of the constitution states that every member of the provincial assemblies should take the oath of office and secrecy before participating in the assembly or any of its committees.

Senior Advocate Chandra Kanta Gaywali told THT that since left parties were objecting to the government’s preparation for appointing governors, the only way out could be temporary appointment of governors only for swearing in provincial assembly members and chief ministers.